Newspapers--Not the Way of Edsal

Despite the dire predictions and the declining profits, I want to support newspapers with a loud and resounding voice. Pretty much all of them have seen declining profits. We are losing some of our long-timers with the Rocky Mountain News and others. You could say "there are so many more what's the difference" or you could know that we are going in the wrong direction. I think the latter. As Nicholas Kristof writes today, we are in danger of talking to ourselves and just getting the news channel or print opinions that we agree with already. This is dangerous stuff. Not to have a back and forth with ourselves and hopefully with others prevents us from developing judgment on an issue. As Hannah Arendt said, "I know what I know and you know what you know but it is what we know together that is important." That is what good journalism allows citizens to do--understand different perspectives. One of the places that understands this best is the Kettering Foundation where I serve on the board. I would encourage you to read this pdf or request a copy of their latest Kettering Review on this very topic to get a full perspective on why a full and open media is critical to the health of a democracy. Then go buy a couple of newspapers of different political persuasions and understand that once again very smart people can disagree. It is out of that disagreement and deliberation that we come to a better vision of what we need to do collectively. Newspapers are a key to that process.